Evangelical Christian Leaders Bring Morality into Immigration Reform Debate
Feature Story by Lia Mandaglio - 4/25/2007
As the issue of immigration reform continues to heat up in Congress, faith communities across the nation cite a moral imperative to finding a just and comprehensive solution.
On March 12, the Center for American Progress hosted a panel discussion on comprehensive immigration reform, joined by leaders in the Evangelist Christian effort to rectify the U.S. immigration system.
Most of the panelists supported the McCain-Kennedy bill, a modified version of which passed the Senate last year. They praised its provisions that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to legalize their status and reunite with their families and that would have handled future influxes of workers into the U.S.
The panelists implored members of their religious communities to acknowledge a moral duty to reform immigration. Rev. Salvatierra, executive director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, said that there is a Christian responsibility to "awaken the moral imagination of the country" by establishing an immigration system that is both compassionate and viable.
However, according to Rev. Rodriquez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the immigration reform mission currently lacks support from white Evangelical Christians. Rodriguez urged his fellow Evangelists to see past their differences on other issues and stop acting as "the gatekeepers of a political majority."
The panelists appealed to the white Evangelical community for support of comprehensive immigration reform by referring to biblical passages which preach the merciful and dignified treatment of immigrants. According to Jim Wallis, president and executive director of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, it is important for Christians to remember "that how [they] treat the stranger, biblically, is a great moral issue."
The panelists said that by referencing Christian principles in the Old and New Testaments, white Evangelicals may acknowledge a spiritual duty to reform immigration policies.
Despite a lack of white Evangelical support, Rev. Sam Rodriguez said that this faith-based effort marks the first time diverse religious communities are constructing "an inter-faith alliance" to solve immigration concerns. According to Rev. Salvatierra, the effort to reform the immigration system has witnessed a "response of faith communities across the board," including members of the Catholic, Jewish, and Islamic religions.
Wade Henderson, director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, believes that assembling inter-faith coalitions will have a significant impact on upcoming developments in comprehensive immigration reform. Henderson said that "by building bridges across the isle of difference, faith-based groups will hopefully create the momentum needed to mobilize immigration reform in the next legislative year."
Congressional leaders are looking to revive the debate over immigration reform this year. In the House, Reps. Luiz Gutierrez, D. Ill., and Rep. Jeff Flake, R. Ariz., introduced a bill that civil rights groups say is much better than the bill the House passed in December 2005.
Legislation has not been re-introduced in the Senate this Congress.
